Principal Project Manager - NJ

At Mott MacDonald, we trust our brilliant people to do brilliant things in engineering, management, and development services, supporting multisector project work in over 150 countries. As one of the largest employee-owned companies in the world, we pride ourselves on our ability to deliver exceptional outcomes through our network of 20,000+ talented consultants. With sustainability and innovation at the heart of all our sectors in North America, including, Buildings, Energy, Transportation, and Water.

We believe in empowering our people to excel, learn, and grow, offering diverse opportunities to contribute to career-defining work. Join us and be part of a collaborative environment where your ambitions are united with ours, and you can truly shape your story.

If you share that vision, even if you don’t meet every requirement listed, we’d still love to hear from you. We value potential and diverse perspectives as much as experience. Let’s explore how we can support your growth and help you take the next step in your career, while contributing to an exciting new chapter for Mott MacDonald in North America.

Mott MacDonald is looking for professionals to join our ever-expanding Transportation team here in the New Jersey and New York City Metro Area. We are currently looking for a Principal Project Manager with experience in the New Jersey and New York City Metro Area for the Rail Infrastructure Industry (NJ Transit) . The successful candidate is required to have a strong understanding of the design and construction industry in the New Jersey and New York City Metro Area and experience working on public agency projects.

The candidate will apply a comprehensive knowledge of various disciplines to be used during construction, as well as the methods and techniques to be utilized. The candidate must become thoroughly familiar with the required contractual obligations and technical aspects of prospective projects. In addition to construction supervision, the candidate is also responsible for field administration, field engineering, budgeting, change management, and project scheduling.

The candidate must possess a working understanding of the railroad industry, railroad operations, and railroad force account work. The candidate will work with senior agency staff, representatives from other railroads, permitting agencies, public utilities, and permitting agencies. The candidate will be well written and produce letters and monthly reports. The candidate will be well versed in project safety best practices.

Responsibilities of the position will include, but may not be limited to:

• Lead the pursuit and execution of CD, PE, FD & Construction Management Phases of Rail Infrastructure projects, developing and evaluating plans and criteria, weighing alternatives and selecting the most cost-effective solution meeting the stakeholders and client’s needs.

• Identify and evaluate future opportunities through engagement with the client, lead proposal development through the procurement process and support transportation business development efforts to build Mott MacDonald’s reputation in New Jersey/New York.

• Provide vision, support, and challenge to encourage collaborative, high performance team environments that promote analytical and resourceful problem solving, driving innovative approaches and alternative solutions.

• Be invested in the development of Northeast Transportation staff through technical mentoring, leading effective communication, and supporting career advancement.

In this role, you will be expected to:

• Serve as senior project manager or discipline task lead on large and complex projects with multi-disciplinary project teams.

• Serve as project principal, supervising project managers on smaller, less complex projects.

• Research the feasibility of alternative design approaches, site conditions, and regulatory agency specifications.

• Build on current client relationships and grow, nurture, and strengthen new external client relationships; build and maintain strong networks with key clients (NJ Transit & Amtrak), business partners and competitors, using these networks to influence, identify opportunities and impact the growth and direction of the transportation business.

• Identify and manage opportunities through the entire procurement process, including upselling to existing clients.

• Lead the development of high-performance team environments by providing vision and guidance to design teams, offering both support and challenge to encourage independent, creative thinking and collaboration.

• Exemplify Mott MacDonald values and culture, where results are driven by a total team effort and junior professionals feel supported through mentorship.

• Independently plan and review production of engineering drawings, specifications, engineering investigations and concept development work.

• Coordinate with all staff, including other disciplines, to maintain project execution and control to achieve continuity of purpose within scope, budget, and time schedules from initial start-up through final design on transportation projects.

• Supervise and/or participate in quality control checks, maintaining quality standards in all work produced, and/or reviewing designs and drawings performed by others.

• Serve as client account leader / liaison, including client account management, development and maintenance of client engagement plans, monitoring client satisfaction on current projects, overseeing client communication, and overseeing efficient resolution of client issues as they arise.

We invite applications from candidates with the following qualifications:

• A minimum of 15+ years’ relevant experience in the infrastructure and/or transit industry managing rail or transit projects

• 10+ years’ experience in managing multi-disciplinary project teams and managing engineering proposals.

• Previous Construction Management and/or Resident Engineering experience working with NJ Transit or equivalent public agencies

• Demonstrated comprehensive knowledge of and experience with the NJ Transit project delivery processes.

• Demonstrated comprehensive knowledge of and experience with public involvement and the transportation planning process.

• Excellent emotional intelligence and personal resilience, demonstrating awareness and regard of self, the situation, and others to effectively communicate with teams to produce results.

• Well-developed technical writing skills, including writing proposals, technical reports and construction specifications.

• Experience in managing and growing client relationships.

• Established relationships with at least 3-5 current NJ Transit project managers.

• Experience in planning, design and construction management for Rail Infrastructure projects.

• Bachelor’s Degree in Engineering or Urban Planning

• Current NJ PE license and Current NY PE license preferred or ability to obtain within a reasonable amount of time.

• Current NJ PP license or AICP Certification

Benefits & Reward

At Mott MacDonald, our employees have a stake and a voice in our business, providing them with a direct connection to our success through our personal and group performance bonuses. We provide a comprehensive benefit package that includes 401k, medical, dental and vision insurance, short-term/long-term disability, paid holidays, PTO, parental leave, and company paid life insurance.

Individual pay is determined based on several factors such as work location, education, experience, and unique skills.

The expected salary for this position is

NJ: $174,000 - $213,000

NY: $180,000 - $223,000

Collaboration at Our Core
At Mott MacDonald, we believe great ideas happen when we’re together. Our hybrid approach centers on an in-office culture, with most of your time spent collaborating face-to-face and a minimum of three days per week in the office. We balance flexibility with connection, so you and your manager can choose how to meet client, team, and personal commitments.

Equal opportunity is the law.

We seek to promote fair employment procedures and practices to ensure equal opportunities for all. We encourage individual expression in our workplace and are committed to creating an inclusive environment where everyone feels they have the opportunity to contribute.

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All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, protected veteran status, creed, marital status, sexual orientation, gender identity, citizenship status or disability status.